Discovering the Cultural and Culinary Heritage of North India!!
Our friends keep asking us how we liked our trip. I tell them that it was an education in culture, history
and religion. I thought India was overwhelming at times, but found it colorful, spiritual and fascinating.
It’s the kind of trip that you’ll be thinking about years later – As Observed By Ms. Joan Landers (A Former Guest Of Trinetra Tours)
Discovering the Cultural and Culinary Heritage of North India!!
Our friends keep asking us how we liked our trip. I tell them that it was an education in culture, history and religion. I thought India was overwhelming at times, but found it colorful, spiritual and fascinating. It’s the kind of trip that you’ll be thinking about years later – As Observed By Ms. Joan Landers (A Former Guest Of Trinetra Tours)
Day 01: Arrival / Delhi
Welcome to India, or as we say ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (The guest is an incarnation of God). Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!!
Late night arrival, meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representatives welcome you and escort you to your car. Whilst the room keys and check-in is organized, our representative would introduce the tour to you and hand over the documents to you.
Overnight at The Oberoi – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel, Delhi (Premier Room) (No Meals)
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast, we will proceed for the guided tour of Old Delhi. We cross the city and into the walled gates of the Old city with visits to the Jamma Mosque (1650) and drive through the fabled area of Chandni Chowk (aptly translates to Moonlight Square) where the throngs of shoppers and vendors meet in the oldest area of Delhi. (Please expect some shops to be closed on Sundays) The highlight of this tour would be a ride on cycle rickshaws. Now these are 3-wheel cycles with a sofa seat at the back. The Rickshawala (Rickshaw driver) sits on a small cushion in the front and two passengers on the sofa seat behind. This is a remarkable way to explore and picture the hustle and bustle as well as the color of the narrow winding streets bursting with people and pavement shops selling wares of all description – including a laughing set of dentures. The ride would be accompanied by peals of laughter both from the passengers as well as the onlookers. We will also visit the Raj Ghat and nearby ghats where the founder of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and thereafter Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were cremated.
Next, we will embark on a city tour of New Delhi. Our tour includes a visit to the QutabMinar – 72 meters high and one of the most perfect towers in the Persian world. The Iron Pillar which has survived the vagaries of weather for over 1500 years. Then, we will continue our expedition with a drive to the Lutyens Delhi which is considered to be the corridors of power and serenity. Our tour includes a drive pass through the Rashtrapati Bhawan, this vast, intricate work of mixed Mughal and Western architecture is one of the largest presidential residences in the world we will also visit the Parliament House as well as witness the majestic India Gate – a powerful tribute to our brave soldiers. Following our drive pass to the Lutyens Delhi area, we will now visit the Humayun’s Tomb (1586), built by the Emperor’s widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, and commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture.
Overnight at The Oberoi – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel, Delhi (Premier Room) (B)
Day 03: Delhi / Lucknow (AI 431 - 1220 / 1335 Hrs)
After a leisurely breakfast, we will transfer to the Delhi airport to board the flight to Lucknow. Meeting and assistance upon arrival as our representative will welcome you and transfer to hotel, Lebua – Saraca Estate. In this evening tour, enjoy a curated dining experience at Kotwara House, the residence of one of the oldest royal families of Awadh. Situated in the posh QaiserBagh area of Lucknow, this royal residence of the present Raja Muzaffar Ali is a living museum of art and craft. Enjoy a meal specially curated by Muzaffar Ali and his wife Meera Ali. We will have this opportunity to dine over a curated menu from the royal kitchens of Awadh that will always be fresh on your taste-buds.
Overnight at Lebua – Saraca Estate (Lebua Suite) (B & D)
Day 04: Lucknow
This morning, we will witness the architectural, and historical wonders of Lucknow, and through these beautiful monuments, we will understand a culture of a time surviving now mostly in remains. We will start our day with the La Martiniere College, a rare example of the French architecture in India. Later, we will make our way to Dilkusha Palace & Gardens – this palace was built by a European architect for the Nawab (Ruler) – Sadat Ali Khan. The Nawab saw this building only on its completion and the first words that came to his lips were “DilKhushHua” (My Heart is Pleased), thus it was aptly named “Dilkusha”. Later on, we will visit the Residency; a place that used to be the official residence of the British Resident – a place where speechless walls are known to speak the gruesome tale of the 1857 mutiny. From there we will visit the Bara Immambara (also known as AsafiImambara), this sprawling complex was commissioned by the then Nawab of Awadh, Asaf -ud-Daula in the year 1784. This magnificent monument recalls the glorious past of the Nawabs and stands out for its austerity in style, proportion and symmetry along with its unique architecture. The complex also includes the large Asfi mosque, the Bhul-Bhulayah (the labyrinth) and a summer palace with running water. To conclude our tour of nostalgia, we will end with the HussainabadImambara (also known as ChotaImambara), this structure houses the tombs of the builder Muhammad Ali Shah and of his mother and is approached through a fine manicured garden. Evening, we will go for a Food Walking Tour in the Nawabi city of Lucknow. The culinary delicacies of Lucknow illustrate the harmonious blending of diverse and royal influences over the centuries. This special food walk will let you through the by-lanes of this miraculous place. You would have a perfect glimpse of the variety of mouthwatering foods cooked on the streets – an attribute for which Lucknow is renowned in India. Besides, food in Lucknow has its own identity. The city has given this country unique, and tasty delicacies like kormas, kaliya, nahari-kulchas, roomalirotis, warqiparathas and above all kebabs–of different types.
Overnight at Lebua – Saraca Estate (Lebua Suite) (B & D)
Day 05: Lucknow / Jaipur (6E 7321 - 1730 / 1915 Hrs)
Morning, we will proceed to discover the markets of Lucknow – though the city doesn’t have many glitzy malls, and glamorous shops, but shopping in Lucknow can be a memorable experience thanks to its vibrant markets and blended traditions. The city is quite famous for its traditional chikan embroidery work, which attracts travelers from all across the country. Shopping in the city’s markets, with their narrow old lanes and countless shops, has its own charm. Apart from chikan work, the royal city is also renowned for its exquisite jewellery pieces and ittar (perfume). A visit to Lucknow’s most famous shopping hubs such as Aminabad, Janpath, Chowk, Gadbadjhala and Alambagh, is guaranteed to be a memorable experience in more ways than one. (Though the checkout time is 12 noon, every effort would be made to retain rooms till as late as possible without additional charges – subject to availability) Later in the afternoon, we will transfer to the airport for your flight to Jaipur. Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Jaipur, as our representative will welcome you and transfer to the Rajvilas Hotel, one of the country’s premier hotel. Set in 30 acres of orchards, gardens, decorated pools and fountains. The hotel is build with exacting detail, recreating a traditional Rajasthani fort setting. A key feature of the landscape is a large lotus filled water body in which floats a 250-year-old temple on a small island. A haveli or traditional Rajasthani mansion has been restored to its former beauty and contains the hotel’s world class spa. The spa is professionally run with the assistance of a specialised spa consultant from the United Kingdom. It incorporates traditional Indian Ayurvedic methods of relaxation, massage and herbal treatment into its programmes.
Overnight at The Rajvilas – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel (Premier Room) (B)
Day 06: Jaipur
Morning, we will visit the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city. It was built in 1799 so that veiled royal women could peer down unseen by the world through its 593 stone screens. Next, we will visit Amber Fort, the former capital of the royal Jaipurs. Few fail to be moved by the dramatic Rajput grandeur of this hilltop fortress-palace 11 km north of Jaipur. Set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, and surrounded by fortified battlements, the palace straddles two sepia-hued tundra hills overlooking Maota Lake, and its sprawling crenellated walls lattice the surrounding hills. We will ride up to this hilltop palace on a Jeep. Our guide will elaborate on the history of this architectural masterpiece with its mirror-studded alcoves, dazzling mosaics and water-cooled swings that delight today’s visitors as they did their former royal residents.
Later, we will visit the Panna Meena ka Kund. This beautiful place was constructed during sixteenth century. The place was mainly utilized as a place of social meetings. People from nearby places come here for getting water, swimming or just to hang out with their loved ones. During ancient times, this place was utilized mainly as water protects pool. This beautiful Kund has a unique architecture and styling. This Kund was designed by a Brahmin and constructed by craftsmen and engineers. We would also stop at Jal Mahal palace for photos. (From Outside Only) Then, we will proceed on a tour Of the City Palace & Observatory. The City Palace in the heart of the old city is a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. The palace lies in the heart of the city and occupies the whole central grid. The fortified wall has seven gates and was built for protection from invading armies and animals that lived in jungles, which surrounded the wall that time. Next, we visit the Solar Observatory – an astronomical treasure house, with solar device that give accurate predictions till date. We also visit the temple of Govind Dev Ji. It is one of the most sacred and famous tourist destinations in India. The temple is located in the City Palace complex, of Jaipur. The idol of GovindDevJi is strikingly beautiful for its complete resemblance with Lord Krishna, and the temple is placed between Chandra Mahal and BadalMahal in the City Palace complex. Every day, various ‘Aartis’ and ‘Prasad’ or ‘Bhogs’ are offered at the temple, at seven different times.
This evening, we explore the culinary secrets of Jaipur. The cooking in the region is a great combination of Royal kitchen and local specialties. Hence the emphasis of our food trail is to make the best foodie stops of Jaipur. A food tour of Jaipur is the best way to experience a blend of Spice, sweet, tangy, dessert etc. The mouth-watering walk is made in the old parts of the Pink City so that the setting of cultural and culinary heritage blend into each other. The food is genuine, flavourful as well as safe. The walk is conducted by a uniquely skilled explorer who has made detailed research on the culinary secrets of the old city of Jaipur. Bottled water, sanitizers and wet wipes are provided at the start of the food walk . The gastronomical treat that you could expect on the walk would be a fair sampling of the following:-
– Dahi Kachori (combo specially in Jaipur), Kanji Vada, Jagannath Dal ki pakodi, Samrat’s Samosa with Asafoetida Dip, Sabut Dana Kichdi, Gol Gappa’s, Bedvi Bhaji, savory snacks. These are all vegetarian specialities.
– However, if you love your meats, you would for sure savour the unique and succulent Shami Kababs, fried chicken, Kali Mirch ka Chicken.
– The experience is capped by a variety of deserts as gulab jamun, halwa, kufi besides local drinks as lassi, lemon Soda etc.
Overnight at The Rajvilas – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel (Premier Room) (B & D)
Day 7: Jaipur / Fatehpur Sikri / Agra (243 Kms) (07 Hrs Drive)
we will drive to Agra en route we will stop at deserted capital city of Fatehpur Sikri. This abandoned capital of the Mughals is a perfectly preserved city at the height of the empire’s splendor. The city divided into religious and secular parts has interesting well-sculpted buildings. Following the visits, we will continue our drive to Agra. Upon arrival in Agra, check in to Amarvilas hotel, which is one of the best boutique hotels in the world. The hotel of whimsical charm has several attractions. However, being in the city of the Taj Mahal, the most relevant charm of the hotels is the unhindered view of the Taj Mahal from your bedroom. It is the most beautiful and an amazingly uplifting sight. Only 600 meters from the Taj Mahal stands this luxury resort. Discerning travelers can now appreciate the fabulous Taj Mahal while enjoying world-class luxury. The elaborate Mughal gardens, terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions complement the classical architecture of the hotel. Evening, we will visit Mehtab Bagh. The Moonlight Garden was an extension of the Taj Mahal Garden – on the other side of the river. In 1652 Aurangzeb wrote to his father telling of a visit to the blessed tomb and commenting that the Mehtab Garden was completely inundated and has lost its charm, but soon it will regain its verdancy. The octagonal pool and the pavilion around it are in splendid condition. The Mehtab Bagh was lost under the mud but re-excavated in the 1990s. Originally, the garden was planted with fragrant flowers and used in the cool of the night as a place from which to view the Taj Mahal reflected in the octagonal pool and in the river.
Overnight at The Amarvilas – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel (Premier Room) (B)
Day 08: Agra (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays)
Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal, perhaps the most photographed monument in the world. However, there is a degree of enigma about the Taj. Once you hear about a building so much and once you see so many pictures of a building your expectations are real high; and this is the enigma about the Taj Mahal. No matter how many pictures you have seen or no matter how high your expectations are the Taj never lets you down – the unparalleled glory and beauty of the building surpasses beyond all human imaginations. At sunrise we visit one of the greatest sights of one’s lifetime – Taj Mahal. A dawn visit to the fabled Taj Mahal to witness the magical effects caused by the reflections of the changing colours of the rising Sun on this brilliant white marble building. Following, we return to our hotel for breakfast After breakfast, we ride to the massive Agra Fort. The elegant buildings inside reflect an interesting synthesis of Hindu and Central Asian architectural styles. Built by Emperor Akbar, the maze of the courtyards, mosques & private chambers of the fort echo the story of the Mughal Empire We will visit a unique café, called Sheros Hangout
Women who fought back for life (Acid attack victims) are the real fighters as they have started to lead a normal life by running a one of its kind café, ‘Sheroes Hangout’ – An air of unhurried informality hangs in the air at Sheroes, aided by bamboo furniture and Bollywood music. Times are now different for these ladies as they work in the different capacities in the café – from cook, waiter, cleaner to managing accounts. Alongside, one can find a boutique store too. The café also has a reading section that has become extremely popular among visitors and locals alike. In the evening, we take you in pursuit of a truly natural and cultural experience in an Indian home. The laughter and the entertaining conversations will only be the add-on of this session, along with the mouth- watering food and memories to take away. We will, of course, advise you to take your cooking class seriously, as, what you put in the pan, will eventually appear on your plate!! However, we must assure you that your cooking class is not all about slaving over a hot stove. Your host would make your visit a special event, by engaging with you at all times, helping you learn the relevance of various spices, and, knowing little, but, less known secrets of the Indian kitchen. The event is guaranteed to be an occasion that would tickle your heart through the route of your stomach. As the part of the event your dinner is also included.
Overnight at The Amarvilas – a 5* Oberoi Group Hotel (Premier Room) (B & D)
Day 09: Agra / Delhi (241 Kms) (04 ½ Hrs Drive) Delhi / Departure
Following a leisurely breakfast, we will drive to Delhi along one of the India’s finest freeways Upon arrival in Delhi, we will transfer to the international airport for your onward flight back home.
NO HOTEL QUOTED FOR THIS DAY (B)
END OF SERVICES
We do hope the flavor of India will remain on your taste buds for all times to come and
hopefully would kindle an indelible fondness for the country and her people; Thank you for being our guest, and as we say in India ‘Please come back soon”
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you!!
TOUR INCLUDES:
– Accommodation based on Twin Sharing Basis
– Meals as per the itinerary only (B – Breakfast, D – Dinner)
– Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi
– Kotwara Dinner in Lucknow
– Food Walking Tour – Lucknow
– Bazaar Tour – Lucknow
– Jeep ride at Amber fort in Jaipur
– Jaipur Food Trail
– Cooking demonstration and dinner with an Indian Family in Agra
– All journeys as per itinerary in a fine air-conditioned Toyota Crysta
– Inner India airfares as per the itinerary based on current schedule (subject to change
and 100% cancellation charge) (Based on current availability and schedule)
– Local English-speaking guides
– Entrance fees as per the itinerary
– GST Levy, Toll, and Parking
– All driver expenses
– Bottled drinking water for road journeys
TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
– Camera & video fee to monuments
– Meals other than mention above
– Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, drinks, tips, telephone calls etc
– Lunch at Sheroes Café in Agra
– Credit Card Transaction Fees